AORA Seabed Mapping Working Group

The Atlantic Seabed Mapping International Working Group (ASMIWG) was established by the Trilateral Galway Statement Implementation Committee to identify the steps required to implement a seabed mapping strategy to underpin the objectives of the Galway Statement.

The key objectives include identifying the issues and priorities that need to be addressed by seabed mappers in order to prepare a unified seabed map of the shared Atlantic, focusing on the need for an Atlantic seabed map; to progress data availability, harmonization and standards; and improve communication and sharing of best practices.

The inaugural meeting of the Working Group was held in Brussels on February 24, 2015.

Some achievements to date:

Terms of Reference and Rules of Procedure for the Working Group

White paper on Improving Sharing, Discovery and Access of Seafloor Data in the North Atlantic

White paper on Understanding the characteristics of the seafloor and sub-surface of the North Atlantic – Technology Considerations

Establishment of a process to share data

A North Atlantic Data Portal and prototype Data Viewer

Collaborative Atlantic Ocean Transect Missions

Creation of and recruitment into a Research Vessel Coordinator position

Scoping of an International seabed mapping pilot

Advancements in ocean awareness and ocean literacy

7th Atlantic Seabed Mapping International Working Group Meeting, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, February 2017.

The Working Group has met a total of 7 times and is working along four main themes:

Mapping the seabed of the Atlantic Ocean (specifically the North Atlantic), and identifying target pilot areas and the minimum data required for reconnaissance; and

Ocean literacy: Raising awareness of the need for mapping the Atlantic Ocean seafloor and the value of trans-Atlantic collaboration, and communicating support for existing Atlantic initiatives, and policies.

The following are members of the Atlantic Seabed Mapping International Working Group:

Director, School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire (UNH). Director of the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping and C-director of the NOAA/UNH Joint Hydrographic Center at UNH.